The conditions of the new treaty: telegram from H. Raven
The following telegram was received at the Foreign office, via Trie-te, at 7.30 p.m., from her Majesty’s agent and consul-general at Alexandria, dated Dec. 18: –
Mr. Loch has arrived, with despatches from China, and leaves this day for Malta. The ratification of the Treaty of Tien-tsin was exchanged, and Convention of Pekin signed October 24. The English and French ambassadors took up their residence in the capital, and would remain there till Nov. 9.
The French army retired from Pekin on the 1st of Nov.
The English would remain till the ambassadors left.
A large force to remain at Tien-tsin till treaty conditions by fulfilled. Principal clauses: – Apology from Emperor for affair of Peiho last year; Ministers to reside at Pekin; indemnity fixed to be doubled; Tien-tsin to be opened to trade immediately; emigration allowed; Kowloon ceded to British crown; Treaty of Tien-tsin and Convention of Pekin to be put in immediate operation, and to be published throughout the empire.
Palaces of Yuen-min-Yuen have been entirely burnt to the ground by British forces.
Bodies of the prisoners who died in the hands of the Chinese brought in and buried with honours in the Russian cemetery, on October 17th.
Captain Brabazon and Abbe Luc beheaded on or about September 21st, after the battle of Pah-li-Chow; bodies not recovered.
Indemnities expected from Chinese for families of deceased.
English and French ministers left Shanghae for Tien-tsin. Major Anson has arrived charged with despatches from Sir Hope Grant for the War Office, and leaves this day.
(Signed) H. Raven.
Trieste, December 24th, 1860.
(By Reuteur’s Telegram)
Articles of the treaty
– The treaty of Tien-tsin was ratified and Convention signed here on the 24th October by Lord Elgin and Prince Hung.
The same formalities were gone through with Baron Gros on the following day.
The indemnity to be paid by the Chinese has been fixed at 8,000,000 taels in all.
The following is a summary of the Convention: –
In Article 1 the Emperor regrets the misunderstanding at the Taku forts last year.
Article 2 stipulates that a British Minister shall reside at Pekin.
Art. 3 arranges for the payment of the indemnity by instalments.
Art. 4 opens the port of Tien-tsin to trade.
Art. 5 removes the interdict on emigration.
Art. 6 cedes Kowloon to the British crown.
Art. 7 provides for the immediate operation of the treaty of Tien-tsin.
Art. 8 orders the promulgation of the treaty throughout China.
Art. 9 stipulates for the evacuation of Chusan by the British force.
The allied armies are to leave Pekin on the 8th of November.
It is reported that the 1st Royals, the 87th, the Queen’s, the Buffs, and the Marines proceed to England.
Lord Elgin resides in Pekin.
The Emperor is at Zhehol, in Tartary.
Bowlby, de Norman, and Anderson have been buried with great solemnity.
Barbazon was beheaded about September 21st.
The Abbé de Luc also met the same fate.
The sum of £100,000 has been exacted for the families of the British officers who have been murdered.
The summer palace of the Emperor was burnt by the British on October 18.
Shanghae, Nov. 8 – The insurgents are still levying tribute in various places, and are menacing Ningpo.”
Quoted in The Huddersfield Chronicle and West Yorkshire Advertiser, Friday 29 December, 1860.